Good for you!

Another thing to consider if it helps your RA (mine vanished during the weight loss from paleo diet) is to get food allergy tested. Turns out that allergic response can manifest as rheumatic symptoms. While I credit the paleo with making me aware of what was actually going on with body, I'm no longer on it. I'm on the 'don't eat anything I'm allergic to' diet. It's very similar to paleo though I'm allergic to many fruits, veggies and berries now. So it's even more strict.

Food allergy testing is on my list too. At the moment I'm focused on getting this paleo approach to eating done. I would like to eliminate the 5mg of prednisone every morning.

How's it going? Update please :)

I'm doing a good job of eating the right foods. It's hard to notice any huge positive changes because I feel pretty good to begin with. My joints are not swollen, there's no pain, and little fatigue.

Today I'll get my blood tests. I'll be particularly interested in the SED rate. Although it's not super high, I would like to see it reduced.

This has been the week from Hell! Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. So it has been stressful. Usually I would react to that, at minimum, some aches and pains. But, that didn't happen. Perhaps that's because of the diet I'm following right now.

Had my blood tests yesterday. The SED rate went down three points. That's good. I'm guessing my avoidance of inflammatory foods has helped with that.

Good for you, Nancy! I'm surprised that Paleo is so non-inflammatory because I learned while in school to become a Certified Health Coach that meat is inflammatory to our bodies. I do eat pastured, grass-fed beef and Amish chicken (free range) both of which are fed no growth hormones or antibiotics and no GMO corn, so far with good luck. However, I am going to do an elimination diet following "The Plan" by Lyn-Genet Recitas as soon as it comes in. My rheumy recommended it as she has a patient who followed it to determine which foods are inflammatory to her system and has had no progression of disease for 7 years.

Great that your SED rate went down, and I agree, I bet it was from your avoidance of inflammatory foods! Yayyy! I'll be watching this thread.

I've also considered food allergy testing because, while it doesn't seem that I'm allergic to any foods (no rashes, itching, swelling), I'm aware that if a food causes inflammation, you are allergic to it. Also, when I cut out grains a few years ago, I cured myself of dyshidrotic eczema (another autoimmune disease). Be well!

I also thought meat was inflammatory. It certainly is not for me. I also eat grass-fed, pastured beef. Soon my poultry CSA will start so I'll be eating free range chicken again.

I have been tapering down off the prednisone. I've gone from 5 mg day to 4mg and just started 3 mg a day. I think the CBD (marijuana) is helping with this transition.

I've reintroduced a few foods: potato and some dairy. I also tried some rice. I'm not eating these foods regularly, but I was able to eat them at least once without any side effects. I think the biggest trigger for me is stress. Going to the gym twice a week helps with that.

Lynne lets us know what you think of "The Plan" after you have tried it out.

I forgot to add that my doctor (PCP) and I went over my annual lab results. Regarding the lipid panel, he said "It doesn't get any better than that!" Given the amount of animal meat I am eating these days I was curious about my cholesterol + etc. values. They were great. Blood pressure is good and I am slowly losing some weight. The focus on unprocessed foods is making a difference.

Oh Nancy, I'm so happy for you about the CBD helping to get you off that devil prednisone, and that your lipids are great! I wonder if the reason meat isn't inflammatory to you - and maybe even your wonderful lipids - is that you eat grass-fed, pastured beef... I hope so, and that my adding it back in after I start The Plan will show not inflammatory, too! I do know that I feel better since I've cut out dairy a few months ago. My lipids have been great for a few years, since I lost weight via South Beach (which includes a good amount of meat). When I work The Plan, I plan to go to the Amish farm and get some of their cheese to try. I hadn't been eating "clean" cheese. I so wish I could exercise, but I can barely walk right now with the RMO in my left foot. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. I want to keep up weight-bearing exercise for my bones!

Lynne, what's RMO? So sorry you are having trouble walking. I was having problems walking last summer. It was a bizarre summer. Out of the blue I was slammed with swollen joints, pain, and incredible fatigue. I had to wait 3 months to see a rheumatologist. I am so grateful for being symptom free right now.

I have a set of of weights (1, 2, and 4 pounds). I've been working on developing more upper body strength. I can use the weights even when I have to sit in a chair, so that's helping. Of course since I'm overweight, every time I move it's a weight-bearing exercise!

My lipids have been good for years. Like my grandfather, I start my day with two eggs and I've been doing this for decades. One of the foods I eliminated were eggs. I am eating them again without any problem. They are eggs from my chickens. My chickens get lots of kale!

For me, I am tending to think that the dietary culprit is processing and all the additives that go into our food supply. I'm trying to get "clean" food whenever I can.

Nancy, RMO is a rare disorder: Regional Migratory Osteoporosis, sometimes called Transient Migratory Osteoporosis. It is not related to systemic osteoporosis in that it only affects the joints of the lower extremities: Hips, knees and ankles, and when it leaves one joint the bones that were affected re-mineralize (in systemic, the bones never re-mineralize), but the RMO moves to the next closest joint... usually. I think I had this in my right hip in 2006-2008, now I have it in my left foot (furthest joint away!). However, it was never diagnosed back then. It is only able to be diagnosed by MRI and no doc thought to order an MRI. Another way I present atypically is that it generally occurs in middle-aged, overweight males or 3rd trimester females. I am a 61-year-old, average weight female.

I'm an egg girl, too! I wish we could keep chickens, but we live in the city with an ordinance against it. I buy my eggs from a farmer who free ranges his chickens and doesn't supplement them with Monsanto corn, etc.

I've been using hand weights for my arms and upper body, but I have been 18 months basically off my feet now and that worries me. Oh! That's another thing. RMO/TMO generally is self-limiting to 9 months. I had it in my hip for 2 years, and I've now had it in my left foot for 18 months. It began in 3 bones of my foot. Second MRI showed it moved out of 2 of those bones (remained in one) and moved into 2 new bones. We have 28 bones in our feet. At this rate, I fear it could be a few more years before it moves out of my left foot! And now RA on top of it. Oh well... one day at a time, eh?

Lynne, thanks for the explanation of RMO/TMO. I have never heard of it. Gosh, dealing with that and adding on RA is too much. If you can put weight on your right foot, you might find this interesting:

Last October I had a bilateral mastectomy. I'm participating in an oncology rehab program at our local hospital. Down in the basement is a small gym and a few other facilities, including wound care. I often see this fellow going in for wound care treatment. He is a big guy and overweight. He can't put any weight on his left foot. He uses a modified scooter. The scooter I'm referring to is type that kids use. It has handle bars and they stand on it with one foot while pushing with the other foot. This fellow's scooter had raised the part one would stand on. Instead he kneels on it with his left knee. He holds on to the handle bars with each hand and moves by using his right leg. He can really get moving! Maybe you could use it to do some weight-bearing movement on your right leg.... ??

Nancy, I have thought of doing that! Do they just put extensions from the wheels to the raised standing platform? Or use bigger wheels? I have no problem with weight-bearing on my right foot, so it would be ideal! I'm actually getting excited about this daydream now! :)

Lynne, I'll have to look at the scooter more closely next time I see it. I believe there are extension holding the platform up. I don't think the wheels are modified.

Wow! I just did a search on google for: kneeling scooter

There are lots of hits. If you click on the Images tab you'll see many.

Thanks, Nancy! Heading to Google right now! :)